Caenorhabditis elegans: An Emerging Model System for Pesticide Neurotoxicity

McVey, KA; Mink, JA; Snapp, IB; Timberlake, WS; Todt, CE; Negga, Rekek; Fitsanakis, VA

doi:10.4172/2161-0525.s4-003

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 147 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A popular model to study pesticides is the nematode C. elegans [64]. Since the nematodes were isolated from the soil, they came to contact with various environmental contaminants used in the agricultural industry [65][66][67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Pesticides on Longevity and Bioenergetics in Invertebrates—The Impact of Polyphenolic Metabolites

Schmitt

Babylon

Dieter

et al. 2021

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Environmentally hazardous substances such as pesticides are gaining increasing interest in agricultural and nutritional research. This study aims to investigate the impact of these compounds on the healthspan and mitochondrial functions in an invertebrate in vivo model and in vitro in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and to investigate the potential of polyphenolic metabolites to compensate for potential impacts. Wild-type nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans, N2) were treated with pesticides such as pyraclostrobin (Pyr), glyphosate (Gly), or fluopyram (Fluo). The lifespans of the nematodes under heat stress conditions (37 °C) were determined, and the chemotaxis was assayed. Energetic metabolites, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), lactate, and pyruvate, were analyzed in lysates of nematodes and cells. Genetic expression patterns of several genes associated with lifespan determination and mitochondrial parameters were assessed via qRT-PCR. After incubation with environmentally hazardous substances, nematodes were incubated with a pre-fermented polyphenol mixture (Rechtsregulat®Bio, RR) or protocatechuic acid (PCA) to determine heat stress resistance. Treatment with Pyr, Glyph and Fluo leads to dose-dependently decreased heat stress resistance, which was significantly improved by RR and PCA. The chemotaxes of the nematodes were not affected by pesticides. ATP levels were not significantly altered by the pesticides, except for Pyr, which increased ATP levels after 48 h leads. The gene expression of healthspan and mitochondria-associated genes were diversely affected by the pesticides, while Pyr led to an overall decrease of mRNA levels. Over time, the treatment of nematodes leads to a recovery of the nematodes on the mitochondrial level but not on stress resistance on gene expression. Fermented extracts of fruits and vegetables and phenolic metabolites such as PCA seem to have the potential to recover the vitality of C. elegans after damage caused by pesticides.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Pesticides on Longevity and Bioenergetics in Invertebrates—The Impact of Polyphenolic Metabolites

Schmitt

Babylon

Dieter

et al. 2021

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…80 Studies with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have demonstrated that this invertebrate responds to various neurotransmitters and can be evaluated for complex behavioral responses. 81 Anderson and coworkers 82 evaluated compounds from a variety of chemical classes in a C elegans model of locomotor activity and found that movement was more sensitive to known neurotoxicants than to nonneurotoxic compounds. Zebrafish have been gaining in popularity as models for developmental toxicity as well as DNT screening.…”

Section: Ferretsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Topics in Postnatal Behavioral Testing

Henck¹,

Elayan

Vorhees

et al. 2016

Int J Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The study of developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) continues to be an important component of safety evaluation of candidate therapeutic agents and of industrial and environmental chemicals. Developmental neurotoxicity is considered to be an adverse change in the central and/or peripheral nervous system during development of an organism and has been primarily evaluated by studying functional outcomes, such as changes in behavior, neuropathology, neurochemistry, and/or neurophysiology. Neurobehavioral evaluations are a component of a wide range of toxicology studies in laboratory animal models, whereas neurochemistry and neurophysiology are less commonly employed. Although the primary focus of this article is on neurobehavioral evaluation in pre- and postnatal development and juvenile toxicology studies used in pharmaceutical development, concepts may also apply to adult nonclinical safety studies and Environmental Protection Agency/chemical assessments. This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium held during the 2015 American College of Toxicology annual meeting and includes a discussion of the current status of DNT testing as well as potential issues and recommendations. Topics include the regulatory context for DNT testing; study design and interpretation; behavioral test selection, including a comparison of core learning and memory systems; age of testing; repeated testing of the same animals; use of alternative animal models; impact of findings; and extrapolation of animal results to humans. Integration of the regulatory experience and scientific concepts presented during this symposium, as well as from subsequent discussion and input, provides a synopsis of the current state of DNT testing in safety assessment, as well as a potential roadmap for future advancement.

show abstract